The Red Cross has announced that its network of volunteers contributes US$6 billion in economic value through the services it delivers during disasters and through everyday community development initiatives.

Speaking at the International Association for Volunteer Effort conference in Singapore, Red Cross President, Tadateru Konoé, quantified the ratio of paid staff to volunteers within the humanitarian network and highlighted the value they bring.

On average, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers extend the organisation’s paid workforce by a ratio of 1:20, though in some regions this ratio is much greater. For instance, in South East Asia there are 432 volunteers for every paid staff member.

The aim of the research was to highlight the contribution of international volunteers in an effort to encourage governments to lobby for positive legislative change and foster a culture of volunteering worldwide.

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